Finding out that something is wrong with your heart is
scary. You may feel depressed and worried. This is a common reaction. Sometimes
it helps to talk to others who have similar problems. Ask your doctor about
support groups in your area.

How is it treated?

Treatment for chronic cases includes regularly checking your heart to make
sure it is working properly. You may take medicines to relieve symptoms or to prevent or treat complications. Medicines include:

You may need surgery to repair or replace your mitral
valve if you get symptoms of heart failure, if the size of your left ventricle
(your heart's main pumping chamber) increases, or if your heart weakens.

If you have chronic mitral valve
regurgitation, your doctor may want you to make some lifestyle changes to ease
the load on your heart.

You may need to be careful about physical
activity. Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program.

Treatment for acute mitral valve regurgitation
occurs while you are in the hospital or the emergency room. You need surgery right away to repair or
replace the valve.

This information is produced and provided by the National
Cancer
Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National
Cancer
Institute via the Internet web site at http://
cancer
.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated:
March 12, 2014

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this
information.